Pastor Connection 6/30/2022

June 30th, 2022

Pastor Connection

Psalm 30

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me.

O Lord, my God, I cried to You for help, and You have healed me.

O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the pit.

Sing praises to the Lord, O you His faithful ones, and give thanks to His holy name.

For His anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved."

By Your favor, O Lord, You had established me as a strong mountain; You hid Your face; I was dismayed.

To You, O Lord, I cried, and to the Lord I made supplication:

"What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit?

Will the dust praise You? Will it tell of Your faithfulness?

Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper!"

You have turned my mourning into dancing; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

so that my soul may praise You and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

First Wednesday Club

The first Wednesday club will be meeting this upcoming Wed., July 6 at noon in Calvin Hall. There will be no directed study but we will still gather for fellowship.

Hymn Sing UPDATE

UPDATED DATE FOR HYMN SING. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY RSVP'd PLEASE RE-SEND FOR THE NEW DATE!

Do you have any favorite hymns that you haven't sung in a while? Rev. Dave and Sue Feltman will be hosting a hymn sing at their home on THIS Sunday, July 3, at 6:30 pm. It will be outside (and mostly in the shade). The Feltman home is 9206 Hess Road, Waterloo.

We will be using the Presbyterian Hymnal "Glory to God". Please bring yours or perhaps borrow one from your church. We will have a few extras for those without access to it. The format is simple. Call out a hymn that you would like to sing, and we'll all sing it!

Please bring your own lawn chair, your choice of bug spray just in case, and perhaps a small plate of cookies to share. We will have water available.

So that we may adequately prepare, let us know either by email or text if you will be going. We look forward to seeing you and singing your favorite hymns!

suefeltman76@gmail.com Sue's cell: 515-570-9258 or davidafeltman@gmail.com Dave's cell: 319-231-3570

Church Picnic

First Church is planning a "Bring Your Own Picnic" July 10, following the Worship Service. This will be held at a shelter in Exchange Park in Waterloo. More details to follow.

Christmas in July

The Mission and Outreach Team invites you to participate in a Christmas in July event that will benefit our Partner in Education, Cunningham School. From July 3 to July 17 you will have an opportunity to donate funds that will purchase school uniforms, socks, and underwear for students at Cunningham. After consulting with the staff at Cunningham, it was determined that those were the items most needed by the students. There is a Christmas gift bag in the church office. Simply drop your check or cash into the ba. You may also mail a check to the church office. Please write "Christmas in July" in the memo line.

The Mission Team thanks you for your kindness.

Tools for Caregivers Classes

Feeling stretched caring for a family member or friend? Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a class to provide you - the caregiver - with skills to take care of yourself. This series of six classes, held once each week, offers tools and support to help you reduce stress, solve problems, and communicate confidently when faced with tough decisions. Class participants are given the Caregiver Help book to accompany the class and provide additional caregiver resources.

When you take care of yourself, everyone benefits.

Six Tuesdays, starting Aug 2 through Sep 6. 10:00-11:30am, here at First Presbyterian. No cost to attend.

Registration deadline: July 27. These classes are through the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging.

For more information contact:

Anne Marie Kofta a kofta@nei3a.org

Brittny Brown bbrown@nei3a.org

Or call 1-800-779-8707

Waterloo Bucks Game

Take me out to the ballgame! Join us Saturday, July 16, at Riverfront Stadium for an evening of Bucks baseball! Cheer on the Waterloo Bucks as they battle the Eau Claire Express. Game time is 6:35 pm and the cost is only $9.00 per person. If you want to join us, sign up in the office no later than Sunday, July 10. There are also fireworks scheduled for after the game. Come out and enjoy an evening of fun with your First Church friends with Bucks baseball!

National Night Out

This year's National Neighborhood Night Out is August 2 and the Walnut Neighborhood is already making plans. Last year we had wonderful volunteers from First Presbyterian who helped make the evening a success. We are beginning again to solicit volunteers for the event. Volunteers are needed for:

Set up - 4:30 pm - 8 people needed
Servers - 5:10-6:10 pm - 6 people needed
Clean-up - 8-10 people needed

(We do not need to provide all the volunteers, but we would like First Presbyterian to again be represented)

There will also be a talent show. Brush up on your jokes, songs, and dances and sign up to perform. We know we have lots of talent at First Presbyterian!

A sign-up sheet for volunteers will be in the office. Thank you!

We are thrilled to continue our partnership helping children in our community! The Hip Hop Literacy program will be hosting their summer classes in our building again this year. 20-30 children will gather in our space Monday through Thursday from 9:00-1:00, starting June 13th and running through July 21st.

Hip Hop Literacy serves children 8-17 a nutritious breakfast and lunch, and provides transportation to and from our building. They meet in Fellowship Hall and the Gym and mentors guide them in using music to write their own songs, encouraging reading, writing, cultural, and musical literacy. Upstairs in the old Presbytery offices they are able to record these songs! Throughout the program music videos are produced, building children's confidence in themselves and their accomplishments.

Overseeing the program is Dr. Shuaib Meacham, UNI Associate Professor of Literacy Education. To read a bit about Dr. Meacham, click HERE.

Updated Church Directory

An updated church directory is now available! There are printed copies available in the church office, or click HERE to access a copy. Updated April 2022. If you need one mailed, please reach out to Amber in the church office, 319-233-6145, or amber@1stpresby.org.

Tuesday Morning Bible Study

There will be NO Bible Study this Tuesday, July 5. We will resume the following week. Thank you!

LIVE STREAMING WORSHIP Now Available!

We are now live streaming our Worship Services EVERY Sunday! The stream will start at 11:00 am on Sundays, and you can view it live on our YouTube channel wherever you have internet access!

If you are unable to watch the service live, the video will be recorded and you can watch at any time by clicking on the video on the YouTube page. The link is (Click Here) bit.ly/1stpresby.

You can also find the link to the YouTube page on the church website.

Click HERE for the bulletin.

We look forward to worshiping with you every week!

PLEASE NOTE: We will continue to meet IN PERSON at the church every week on Sunday at 11:00 am.

Pulpit Flower Volunteers Needed

We are once again accepting donations of flower arrangements for our Sunday Services. We currently have openings July 17, 24, and 31. If you would like to donate, please contact Amber in the office to find a date that works for you. You can call the office or email Amber directly. 319-233-6145 or amber@1stpresby.org. Alternatively, you can let Nancy Valentine know on Sundays after service and she will relay your information to Amber. Thank you!

Church Office Closed

The church office will be closed Monday, July 4th, in observance of Independence Day. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday.

Church Prayer List

With Our Sympathies:

Joann Lockard passed away this past Sunday, June 26. Please keep her family in your prayers as they celebrate her life and grieve her passing.

New to the Prayer List:

Dan Davis, who fell on Wednesday, June 29 and broke his femur; Marsha Muir, who had back surgery Wednesday, June 29, and is recovering at home

Ongoing/Continuing Prayers:

Joe Fernau began strong chemotherapy treatments Thursday, June 23rd, in preparation for his bone marrow transplant. Joe had his stem cells collected 2 weeks ago. This Thursday, the stem cells were given back to Joe. He will be in isolation throughout this process and for 3 weeks following the stem cell transplant; Sue Albright, who will be having her left shoulder replaced July 6th, with 4-6 months of rehab following; Pat Narey, Kari O. Narey's husband, recovering at home from complications from his foot surgeries in February; Betty Wexter, dealing with health issues; Don Broadston recovering from shoulder surgery; Don Broadston's friend, Jean Singer, struggling with lung health problems; Richard Gajewsky, Tyler's grandfather, who was recently diagnosed with cancer; Sam Christensen, recovering from a severe fall at the Med Center in Friendship Village; Janice and Paul Graham, Jennifer Lightbody's parents, who are dealing with health issues- especially Paul who recently fell and severed a vertebrae; Sara Wexter, Betty's daughter-in-law, recently diagnosed with a severe health condition; Gloria Frerichs, recovering from a stroke and settling in to her new home at Friendship Village; Mable, great-granddaughter of Skip and Judy Mulock and their family, struggling with health issues; Steve Miller, ongoing health issue

Add to the Prayer List

Click HERE to submit a prayer request online. Our pastors will be praying for you and sharing concerns with the congregation as requested.